E Suspended 2nd (Esus2)
1+2+5
Notes in E Suspended 2nd
E (root)F#B
Inversions
Same notes as E Suspended 2nd, with a different chord tone as the lowest note. Useful for smoother movement between chords instead of jumping around the keyboard.
Root position
E in the bass
1st inversion
F# in the bass
2nd inversion
B in the bass
E Suspended 2nd is built from E, F# and B.
Suspended chords pull the third out entirely, so they land somewhere between major and minor rather than picking a side. Sus2 fills the gap with a major second sitting close to the root, which gives it an open, slightly hollow color. It's a favorite way to add movement to a strummed or arpeggiated part without changing the underlying harmony.